LORETO Preparatory School staged one of Shakespeare's most beguiling studies of love lost and regained in The Winter's Tale.

Since January, girls in Year Seven have been working with Manchester Arts Education Initiative's directors to stage an hour long version of the masterpiece which examines jealously, revenge, remorse, a return to nature and eventual redemption.

Loreto Preparatory School Year Seven teacher Rachael Wall said: “It is a very challenging work, but our girls love to rise to a challenge. The MAEI's team not only help us discuss the themes but enable the girls to work collaboratively and find their own solutions to production problems as they rehearse.”

Headteacher Anne Roberts said: “We want to introduce the girls to Shakespeare as soon as possible and show them that what he wrote 500 years ago continues to shine a light on our lives today.

"After the secondary schools' examination season has finished, we aim to extend and challenge our girls creatively and I know this is an experience they will never forget.”